Test terminal



Jan. 24, 1939. s. c. CHILDERS TEST TERMINAL Filed Aug. 11, 1938 Ill/111 I .10 m m 0 I m L m Jrwe'n Z07" flZZormgys s m e W a C m e 5 Patented Jan. 24, 1939 TEST TERMINAL Simeon C. Childers, Indianapolis, Ind.

Application August 11,

3 Claims.

This invention relates to means, commonly termed test terminals, wherein a normal connection is made between two terminals and provided with means for quickly intercepting the 5 circuit therebetween for test purposes, to meet the practice arising particularly in the testing of railway signalling circuits. which require frequent testing in the interests of safety.

An important object of the invention is to provide an extremely simple and cheaply constructed unit for the purpose aboveindicated and at the same time provide a structure which is extremely durable and has a minimum number of parts. A still further important object of the invention is to provide such a structure in a form that is readily usable and which will be very positive in its operation in both the connected and disconnected uses.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those versed in the art in the following description of one particular form of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a structure embodying the invention; and

Fig. 2, a longitudinal vertical section on the line 2-2 in Fig. 1.

Like characters of reference indicate like parts in the two views in the drawing.

Referring to the drawing, I form a pair of connector bars l and l l to be separated by an insulating block l3. The bar II is provided with a slotted hole l4 toward one end so as to permit quick engagement over a circuit terminal (not shown). The bar I I receives the insulating block l3 over its major area, the end only of the bar ll remaining uncovered which carries the slot l4. The bar II is further provided with a hole through which a bolt l5 maybe passed. Spaced 40 from the bolt l5 on each side thereof longitudinally of the bar II are depressions formed in the bar I I to cause the metal to project correspondingly on the opposite face in the nature of detents. The insulating block I3 is provided with recesses into which these detents may fit snugly.

The other conductor bar I0 is provided with a slot 2! adjacentone end thereof for engagement over another circuit terminal (not shown). The bar is provided with a major ofiset portion 22 to extend over the block l3. This major part 22 is provided with a hole therethrough to receive an insulating collar l6 which is preferably carried down into a counterbore in the block I 3. The collar l6 surrounds the bolt l5 so as to insulate the part 22 from the bolt IS. The part 22 is further 1938, Serial No. 224,231

provided with a detent l8 spaced longitudinally on each side of the bolt l5 to engage in depressions formed in the insulating block l3. The purpose of the detents on both of the bars I0 and II is to prevent rotation of those members and also the insulating block I 3 about the bolt I5. This is accomplished without having to provide additional pins or bolts entirely through the three members thus brought together.

A securing nut I1 is run down on the bolt l5 against the collar l6 so as to unite firmly the insulating block l3 and the bar II and also to seat the insulating collar l6 against displacement. A test terminal nut l 9 is provided to screw-threadedly engage the bolt [5 and its under side is counterbored so as to provide clearance around the nut 11 and the collar [6 to permit the nut to be brought into contact against the face of the bar portion 22 and thereby squeeze that portion against the insulating block l3 and form, to all intents and purposes, a fixed member providing an electrical circuit from the bar l0, through the nut l9, and bolt IE, to the bar II.

When this device is to be used for test purposes, and the circuit is to be interrupted between the bars l0 and l l, the nut I9 is turned to bring it out of engagement with the bar In so as to interrupt the circuit just described. Normally the various parts will remain in engagement one with the other even when the nut I9 is loosened or even withdrawn since the detents I8 and 20 bite into the insulating block 13 and tend to adhere thereto.

While I have herein shown and described my invention in the one particular form, it is obvious that structural variations may be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I, therefore, do not desire to be limited to that precise form beyond the limitations as may be imposed by the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a test terminal, a pair of conductor bars, an insulating member therebetween, one of said bars at least having an ofiset portion engaging over said member, an insulating sleeve received in said member and extending through one of said bars, a bolt placed through the other of said bars, said member, and said sleeve to extend a distance therebeyond, a securing nut on the bolt carried into abutment with said sleeve, and a ter-' minal nut also carried on said bolt counterbored for clearance over said securing nut and said sleeve to bear against the bar therearound.

2. In a test terminal, a pair of conductor bars, an insulating member therebetween, one of said member and bar in fixed positions about said bolt.-

3. In a test terminal, a pair of conductor bars, an insulating member therebetween, one of said bars at least having an offset portion engaging over said member, an insulating sleeve received in said member and extending through one of said bars, a bolt placed through the other of said bars, said member, and said sleeve to extend a distance therebeyond, a securing nut on the bolt carried into abutment with said sleeve, and a terminal nut also carried on said bolt counterbored for clearance over said securing nut and said sleeve to bear against the bar therearound, one of said bars at least having extensions therefrom engaging said insulating member to maintain that member and bar in fixed positions about said bolt, said extensions consisting of integral detents pressed into said insulating member.

SIMEON C. CHILDERS. 

